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So you thought the krupuk here looks outlandish and different? I went back to the same store in Tabanan and my friend took out even more wildly colorful and gorgeously patterned crackers.
With patterns resembling onion-peels and shapes like extruded woven biscuits, the krupuk can be anything in Indonesia. Imagination has no limitations.
Krupuk, kropek, keropok… These crackling chips are ubiquitous in East and Southeast Asia. Coming often as prawn crackers, they are served as starters in a lot of Asian restaurants for the diners to munch while they wait for their main courses. 
a collage of krupuk for sale at a village store in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
orange-edged krupuk
flower-shaped crackers
In Indonesia though, these crackers are serious business and they come in countless forms, sizes, colors and flavors like nuts, vegetables, fowl, seafood or meat. A visit in a village store in Tabanan, Bali show so much varieties that boggle the eyes. Displayed in sacks or large plastic bags, they literally sell fast as krupuk is basic side dish fare in Bali and is even commonly used as offering.
krupuk with what seem to be peanuts, beans or tempe
fish-flavored krupuk
pink krupuk with yellow trim
As for me, I often would bring pack of krupuk of the Tanjung brand. These are not available in the supermarket though and I have to order them from Sidoarjo, East Java. This city is probably one of the most renowned centers of manufacture of Indonesian krupuk although I hear that West Java’s Garut produces fine krupuk as well.
a typical crowd jostling to buy krupuk at the Tanjung store in Sidoarjo, East Java
colored krupuk
Recipes vary from shop to shop but the basic ingredients are the same: tapioca flour, egg, sugar, salt, spices and flavor essence. These are mixed in large vats and then the dough is rolled thin, steamed, and then sliced or cut before sun-drying. The krupuk are sold wafer-thin but they expand like popcorn when deep-fried. As expected, these crackers absorb so much oil during frying so they are not the healthiest food. But like many fans of the krupuk, I am not complaining.
multicolored-trimmed krupuk
plain krupuk
at Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali
Today, I am leaving for a week-long business trip to Africa so I want to have a photo of my family in my flickr frontpage. 
This photograph of my wife, my mom, my mother-in-law and my daughter Cacing was taken a couple of months ago in Bali (that is the temple of Tanah Lot in the background).
I probably won’t be able to linger long in flickr or even blog in the next seven days. I’ve been delinquent lately as my brother and my sister are also here in Cebu so the term busy is an understatement. Now that I will be away, I’ll be missing the most my family. But I will be back.
Cacing, her Pooh and good friend Ketut at Tanah Lot
Cacing with Mama Pingping, my mother-in-law
me and Cacing
continued from Tanah Lot, a Bali favorite (part 1)
The famous temple of Tanah Lot is one of seven sea temples that by popular myth was built around southwest Bali within eyesight of the each other. Of all seven, Tanah Lot is one of the most frequented by the Hindu faithful. And most certainly, Tanah Lot is the most popular to outsiders, thanks to its spectacular location.
the entrance of the beach where Tanah Lot is
Because of its limited space for such an important role in Hindu cosmology and observances, Tanah Lot has several other temples that serve as functional adjuncts. These include the temples of Penataran, Penyawang, Jero Kandang, Enjung Galuh, Batu Bolong, Batu Mejan Temple and Pakendungan.
blessings in the Pakendungan Temple in front of Tanah Lot
In my visit early this April, the temple anniversary of Tanah Lot was celebrated for a spand of at least three days and nights non-stop. To accommodate the spilling number of worshippers, blessing ceremonies were performed in the smaller peripheral temples, most especially Pakendungan which is just 300 meters west from Tanah Lot. 
the Pakendungan Temple which is 300 meters north of Tanah Lot
worshippers queuing in the Pakendungan Temple
Built in the early 1400s, the Pakendungan Temple is a complex that can easily be observed from the beach entrance of Tanah Lot. I almost decided to join in the celebration to take more intimate pictures. However, I had the entire family with me and I could not exactly be away for too long. Instead, I took pictures of the rites from the outside.
communal prayers at the Pakendungang Temple
Next: crossing the temple of Tanah Lot
To go: Tanah Lot is located in Beraban Village, district of Kediri, sub-province of Tabanan. It is about 13 km from Tabanan regency and 22 km from Denpasar. Access is easy by car.
elderly brahmana priests giving the final blessings to the worshippers
Beyond the postcard spectacle, the temple of Tanah Lot is a source of strength and power for the faithful in Hindu Bali. The collective belief of life beyond the physical is inculcated in a society who holds sacred the basic elements of the sun, the earth, the sea, all of which are converged in this temple in Tabanan, some 20 kilometers away from the capital. 
March 20, 2002
October 26, 2006
Literally meaning land (tanah) and sea (lot), the temple sits on a rocky islet separated from the mainland by the sea. The temple directly faces the west, and as a “sunset” temple, its silhouette against the void of the Indian Ocean is world-famous. 
October 10, 2005
October 22, 2006
Whittled into its current craggy shape by the strong wind and surf, the temple is easily accessible during low tide although crossings during high water are common, especially during temple anniversaries or important ceremonies, as I personally witnessed last week.
October 10, 2005
April 3, 2009
Soon: More of the temple celebration at Tanah Lot.
In nondescript road in Canggu, Tabanan, lies the black sandy beach of Seseh which are regularly bandied around by surfers as a happening place. The dark volcanic sand makes it less appealing to the tourists who favor the white sand of Kuta and Nusa Dua but being left off the main maps means no crowds too. For locals in the area then, Pantai Seseh can be a quiet place to have a picnic, watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean and learn a surfing trick or two in the challenging waves.
the surf can be wild in Pantai Seseh, Canggu, Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
the beach of Seseh extends widely over Canggu
strong waves do not deter traditional boats from plying the waters for fishing
Villas are just beginning to sprout but they are discreetly tucked away from the beach. Shops are few along the road and ambulant vendors are scarce. Maybe the beach isn’t something to crow about but in a place like Bali where space is a premium this beach is just a development investment away from commercialism.
one moment, the swirling sea can be peaceful
the next, the waves can come crashing with violence
For a beach only some 15 minutes away from the magnetic temple of Tanah Lot and extends by kilometers as far as the eyes can see, this can be certainly.
lone surfer waiting for the big wave
a giant wave sneaked up on us during group picture time
